The Vibe's the Thing | Five Tips to Nail the Vibe of Your Story

A few days ago, I learned something surprising about myself from my sister. She said that I nailed the vibes of my stories.

Besides being the hugest compliment ever, it was really an encouragement, because I feel like the vibe of a story is so important and not getting it right can really mess with the way readers digest a story.

So here are my top tips for embracing the vibe of your story!

1 | MAKE AESTHETIC BOARDS

I can't be the only person who is a visual writer. Seeing scenes and photos help my brain process, and then put out what I have in my head. I use Pinterest and Canva to help me out on this one. I'll search up character names, aesthetics, face claims, and anything else I can to help me get into the story. Then, I will either a) print out the collages I made, or b) set the collages as my computer backscreen. (Or both!)

2 | CREATE A PLAYLIST

Even if you don't like to listen to music as you write, this can be a very helpful thing just to give you a feel for your story. You can use Spotify, YouTube, or even write it down on a piece of paper. But then you have an audio for your story and you can listen to them for inspiration!

3 | MAKE USE OF PINTEREST

Yes, this gets its own section - I had to. Pinterest is a H.U.G.E. platform with millions of photos in its system. If you are able/allowed to, look up photos for your story.

• PRO TIP - > Pinterest can have a lot of garbage on it, so when I'm looking up face claims for characters, I ad "character inspiration" on the end. It eliminates a lot of unnecessary junk that can appear from looking up "blonde girl" and often only show shoulders up.

• PRO TIP - > Sometimes looking up your character name and then "core" on the end of that will bring up some really cool stuff. (E.g.: Merrisa-Core) It may not be exactly what you're looking for, but it can give you an idea.

• PRO TIP - > It's helpful to have a specific actor/actress that you use as inspiration for your characters if they look similar. Especially because, if it's a popular actor, you can usually get him/her dressed like your character, depending on what movie they're from.

4 | HAVE OBJECTS NEARBY

This may sound strange at first, but having physical aesthetics nearby when you write helps keep your brain on track and helps it to know that, "okay, we're focusing on this right now." My nicknack for one of my contemporary stories is a small Starbucks cup Christmas ornament that my sister got years ago. Another is a small figurine of a fairy. My pirate book is a handful of collages I printed. Trust me, it will help when you're feeling stuck to be able to look at and touch these object/photos and ground your brain in the story.

5 | GET TO KNOW THE CHARACTERS

One thing that I'm super passionate about when it comes to writing is the character cast. Many people tend to feel like the plot should be able to carry a story, and that it's more important to have loads of action than to have a relatable main character. My friend, characters are important. Might I daresay more important that the plot itself? There's a reason we stick around a book/movie/TV show/series that we adore and keep coming back to it. The characters. If I don't have a character that at least feels relatable, I'm going to have a hard time connecting. Even if you kept me on the edge of my seat with wars and duels, they are but a momentary thrill. It's the characters, though, that stick with us.

That's all for today! I know it's a little on the shorter side, but I thought it might be nice to be able to get back to writing (and vibing to) your story as soon as possible! ;) And quick note, if you want even more inspiration and amazing writing tips, be sure to check our Ava's blog over at AvaCoulterAuthor.com. This girl is doing an amazing job blogging, and she always puts me in a writing mood! <3

What was your favourite tip? What are some tips YOU would add? Do you use Pinterest? Can you believe it's already three days into NaNo? I'd really love to know! <3